DC Missing girls: The scary facts and figures that should alarm you

Social media has sparked another outcry. About two months ago, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department’s commander Chanel Dickerson, made the following statement; “find our missing…

Social media has sparked another outcry.

About two months ago, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department’s commander Chanel Dickerson, made the following statement; “find our missing girls.” Well thanks to social media and the idea of spreading of profiles of missing black and Latina girls, there is now a call for a federal investigation by the Congressional Black Caucus. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey, lawmakers stated “(W) hen children of color go missing, authorities often assume they are runaways rather than victims of abduction,.”

And it is true, black children who go missing receive less coverage than white children. “A 2016 analysis of online coverage of missing persons published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology found some evidence that cases involving white women not only draw more attention, but more intense coverage.”

But now sharing information about these missing children is instant. Anyone anywhere can know who is missing and report any information right away. But why has it taken social media to draw attention to all these cases?

What is happening is that people are starting to question, and care where every missing person is, they are noticing the trends and the bias and speaking up.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments, opinions on this website are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of M-Lifestyle and their affiliates. M-Lifestyle does not claim ownership of any images used, unless otherwise specified.